Designer Timothy Johnson went with inky walls, drapes and carpeting in this showstopping second-floor den, which allow the room’s bright accents to shine. Lemon-yellow ikat chairs, a chartreuse leather sofa, jewel-tone gifts and a sleek white mantel pop against the dark envelope, while a simple evergreen wreath is a subtle hit of holiday cheer.

An elegant, understated front hall is a visitor’s first glimpse into this traditional yet contemporary three-storey Victorian. Designer Timothy Johnson transformed two vintage mirror-top tables into slipper stools, lacquering the legs in a pale grey and updating the upholstery with white leather, a mod counterpoint to the space’s classic mouldings. Gifts wrapped in glam paper add a hit of rich colour, while chinoiserie urns picked up for a song in Chinatown brighten the bay window.

Jewel-toned ornaments with shiny and matte finishes show brilliantly against a feathery white faux tree.

Instead of going for an overly coordinated tree, mix and match new and vintage decorations in a variety of shapes, sizes and saturated hues to achieve a playful feel — the more colour, the merrier! Use a graphic patterned giftwrap — here, it’s stripes and polka dots — to amp up the drama of the tree.

For seasonal sparkle, incorporate silver and gold accents such as a gilt-framed mirror or strings of metallic beads.

Christmas is the most colourful time of year, so why limit yourself to red and green? A pink and blue palette is equally festive. Drape a pale blue throw over a chair or stash utilitarian items in decorative pastel baskets and bags.

Two substantial lamps sit on either side of a hefty mirror, making a grand first impression upon entering this house. A pint-size artificial tree is a playful decorative touch for the holidays that doesn’t require too much upkeep.

Designer Nicola Marc opted for understated, monochromatic holiday decor in her Montreal apartment. She adorned her refurbished antique armoire with a homemade gold paper chain and added a bowl of spray-painted walnuts and sprigs of greenery. The result is festive but elegant.

Using paper to create festive flourishes is a simple and affordable way to decorate for the holidays. This pink and red DIY poinsettia garland was made using a stencil and cardstock, layering three cutouts on top of each other, securing them in the centre and then gluing them on to craft wire. Weaving a string of white lights through the garland and punching each bulb through a metallic candy cup adds an extra bit of sparkle.

Homeowner Bryn Currie scattered her collection of gold, bronze and white ornaments over the tree and cypress garland on the mantel. Mixing white and cream with the natural greenery gives a fresh, elegant look, while the warm metallics add festive sparkle.

For a fun twist on a traditional centerpiece, suspend giant, lacy paper snowflakes above the dining table using silk ribbon. Both feminine and whimsical, they’ll make dinner time infinitely more festive. If you’re not the crafty type, you can purchase premade versions, like these ones from The Paper Place.

In place of a standard tablecloth, layer neutral fabrics with raw edges for a rustic look.

For a fresh take on holiday decorating that’s also budget-friendly, stick to small festive touches. Inject colour with sprigs of greenery on the table and larger evergreen stems on accent tables. Line unscented candle pillars, tapers and tealights throughout.

Homeowner Susan Dyer chose bright, colourful Christmas decorations to complement the soft, cream and pink colour palette in her living room. Playful polka-dot Christmas stockings by Japanese artist Midori are hung along the mantel and jewel tone presents are scattered at the base of the tree. Quaint vintage-inspired objects along the mantel, like the minature house, lend charm and character.

Nestled between the two glass-fronted cabinets, a store-bought gingerbread house adds a sense of whimsy to this inviting breakfast room. Glass-fronted cupboards work with the coffered ceiling to ground the elegant round table.

Use inexpensive glass domes in a variety of sizes and place festive objects like bottlebrush trees, vintage ornaments or special cards underneath. A garland of dried eucalyptus cleverly conceals mismatched bases. Grouped together on a mantel or table, they lend an understated holiday note.

Keep flowers on the table below eye level to ensure guests can make eye contact during dinner. Classic crystal stemware and an understated arrangement of greenery and white amaryllis add polish. Top each plate with a gold Christmas cracker for dinner party fun.

Interior designer Sophie Burke chose nature-inspired and textural white ornaments with a vintage appeal for this family living room. Presents wrapped in simple white or kraft paper and tied with red ribbon decorate the base of the minimalist tree. A white reindeer, green cabbage flowers and votives on the coffee table makes for a simple holiday arrangement.

Gather a few branches in a hand-blown glass vase and hang tiny ornaments from them for a new take on the miniature tree. Using pastels or jewel tones also keeps things looking fresh, but still festive.

The absence of drapes or a rug gives a traditional space a modern edge.

The understated living room is punctuated with bright purple and orange pillows where smart shots of the jewel tones are reiterated in the holiday ornaments to bring cheer to a neutral palette. A sparkly tray on the ottoman and a bowl of fresh tangerines emphasize the season.

Most of us tend to overlook the bathroom when decorating for the holidays, but a fragrant pine sprig tucked on a shelf is just the right amount of Christmas for this space. A vintage gold mirror adds warmth and old world charm to the all-white room.

This holiday decor scheme appeals to the child in everyone. Sweet felt animals and ornaments are strung casually along the mantel to create a nostalgic mood. A little white owl and winter berries gathered in a mercury glass vase add to the simple white and red theme.

The weathered texture of salvaged wood provides a nice contrast to all the metallic accents in our homes at this time of year. Group the candleholders at staggered heights for warm, festive ambience in any room. Plus, they’re inexpensive and easy to make.

Designer Ingrid Oomen adds warmth to her white bistro-style kitchen during the winter months by hanging natural branches from the ceiling with florist’s wire. She decorates them with an icy metallic palette of blue, white and silver ornaments for a modern, yet earthy look.

The natural brown tones of magnolia leaves dressing up both the mantle and tree are echoed in the leather club chairs. Even with white walls, the room feels welcoming, especially when there’s a roaring fire.

Layering antique furniture with soft shades of lilac, this room is an elegant and upscale take on holiday dining. There’s no ornamentation here; a garland of magnolia leaves decorating the 19th-century Dominican sideboard, potted paperwhites and a single vase of hydrangeas, lilies and berries offers subtle nods to the season.

This log cabin has been the site of many boisterous Christmas gatherings. A casual mix-and-match table setting is adorned with a simple potted evergreen and a few scattered boughs, and illuminated with playful antler candleholders. An antique Nova Scotia table and Windsor chairs offer a sturdy complement to the exposed wooden beams and log walls, while a 1920s French chandelier and stunning silver disc light add a surprising hit of sparkle.

A chandelier, overflowing with fresh greenery, is lit with faux candles to give off a soft, warm glow during meals. For a party, dining chairs are pulled away from the table to create an instant buffet. All-white square serving platters offer an orderly presentation and let the food take centre stage.

A wide walnut console in the front window, normally loaded with books, is the perfect place for a four-foot-tall live tree. Elevating the tree enhances its scale in the room. “I used metallic silver, blue and green ornaments (a long-standing family tradition) and white lights,” says Suzanne.

In designer and HGTV host Sarah Richardson‘s holiday house, no area goes undecorated. A boxwood garland along the handrail is a lighter take on a pine or spruce garland, but equally festive. Yellow and gold bird ornaments reference the painted stair runner and add a fun touch. If properly dried and stored, boxwood can last for several seasons before needing replacement.

The 12-foot tree in designer and HGTV host Sarah Richardson‘s farmhouse living room was cut down on their property by Sarah’s husband. Loaded with ornaments, both old and new, the tree stands between the dining room and living room, allowing it to be seen from many vantage points. The warm colour scheme of red, orange and cream in the space creates a cosy feeling, perfect for a country home.

During the Christmas season, designer Darci Ilich ties a ribbon around her quirky stag’s head and frames the piece with an oversized, bauble-covered wreath. The space’s crisp white walls and monochromatic furnishings let her contemporary decorations take centre stage.

Simple Christmas decorations can make a big statement. A large evergreen wreath decorated with burlap tassels adds an organic appeal to this holiday table. White pottery vases filled with silvery dusty miller are lined up down the table to keep with the unfussy, nature inspired theme and don’t get in the way of dinner conversation. Tall pillar candles provide soft lighting, paired with black dishware the look is stylishly modern rustic.

To prime a dining room for holiday entertaining, consider dressing up your chandelier with pretty ribbons and classic ornaments. Here, blue and white satin ribbons pick up on the tones in the table settings while silver baubles add a hit of sparkle.

Designer Darci Ilich’s plump holiday fir gets a boost thanks to a traditional wooden table, giving it the height and presence of a much larger tree. Ilich disguised the base with a length of Tiffany blue-coloured fabric, which also adds a jolt of colour to the monochromatic space.

A striking cast-resin antler wreath is a modern piece that fits with a rustic theme.

Every room can exude holiday spirit — not just the living or family room — as long as they’re decorated with a light hand. In this bunkie, a caribou hide and vintage Paint By Number artworks allude to the wilderness locale.

Spare ornaments can evoke as much emotion as traditional favourites. In this living room, for example, rag socks hung on a cord offer a simple twist on Christmas stockings. They decorate an antique Pennsylvanian pine cabinet, which hides the TV.

Photographer:

Donna Griffith

Products:

Chairs, The Chesterfield shop; cord, ribbon, Mokuba.

Bird-Adorned Garland

The sweeping marble stairs, floor and iron railings of this 1922 Spanish colonial home deserve a dramatic holiday treatment.

A stunning green garland, dotted with feathery white birds, is wired to the base of the railing so that the top remains free for use. A marble table topped with presents and a vintage candle holder add another festive note without being overly ornamental.

Glass vases filled with silver balls add glitter to a flea-market table in a living room.

Combine a mixture of textured, frosted and shiny Christmas ornaments in the same hue for maximum impact. In this photo, framed angel wings (by Toronto artist/framer Patsy Bell) layer in another whimsical nod to the holidays.

Photographer:

Stacey Brandford

Ribbon Draped Holiday Dining Table

Satin ribbons flowing from the chandeliers are elegantly simple accents.

A rustic table, modern chairs and open shelves allow streamlined decorations to really shine. Paper Christmas trees from a dollar store are grouped to enhance the holiday theme.

To make a similar board, paint a vintage frame white, fit it with bulletin board and then use spray adhesive to affix pretty wrapping on top of the cork. After the holidays, the board can be used for mail and shopping lists.

On this crisp white mantelpiece, a collection of new and vintage blue ornaments blend with glistening white “snowballs” (Styrofoam balls coated in clear glue and rolled in glitter). A triptych depicting a snowy scene, painted by homeowner and designer Ian McLeod, ties in with the baubles’ cool colour palette.

Here, we used a silver-robed St. Nick and glittering reindeer, then added mini glass balls on branches and a dusting of faux snow to suggest a picturesque snowfall. The all-white scheme lends modern elegance to the traditional decorations.

A fluffy white Christmas tree sparkles with golden lights, while candles of different heights add interest as a simple centerpiece.

Tree ornaments play off two panels of blue and gold wallpaper, used to create a feature wall. These decorations, the modern colour scheme, harvest table and refined chairs set the scene for a sparkly, candlelit supper that will run well into the wee hours.

Bling in the holidays with a tree that’s more glamorous than traditional green or frosted white varieties.

This tree strikes a ritzy note that needs little embellishment, so forgo the classic trimmings and simply string it with twinkling white lights. The look is simple to achieve and drop-dead chic. A Louis ghost chair by Philippe Starck for Kartell continues the mod aesthetic.

A square wreath offers a refreshing, modern twist on typical Christmas greenery.

The kitchen nook, defined by traditional cabinetry with a cosy bench and modern Ikea table and chairs, serves as a comfy spot for designer Colleen McGill to wrap Christmas gifts. The ribbon board is a handy display area for holiday cards.

A French-Canadian chest of drawers is paired with a glamorous beveled mirror in this principal bedroom. Reflection is one of designer Colleen McGill’s favourite tricks for adding elegance and expanding a Victorian house’s skinny proportions.

A twig candleholder does double duty, offering a spot to hang pretty necklaces and a few small Christmas ornaments.

Lindsay Mens credits her grandmother for her taste for blue. “She had something blue in every room of her house.” The refined silver, off- white and blue palette works beautifully during the holidays and year round.

White walls and grey-blue schoolhouse lights create a modern foil to the original manor-house beams in designer and cookbook author Sophie Conran’s Temple Guiting cookery school. Sculptural white chairs and a stunning teal chest on the far wall add even more character.

A crystal chandelier and silvery wallpaper are sophisticated counterpoints to the glass dining table and icy blue chairs of Lindsay Mens, a senior designer with Sarah Richardson Design and offscreen member of the HGTV show, Sarah’s House. Mens used a medium-grey commercial-grade carpet to unify the living and dining room design, and to draw attention from the parquet flooring.

The holiday decor of Lindsay Mens Craig, homeowner and senior designer at Sarah Richardson Design, is soft and feminine. A luxurious white feather boa and jewel-like ornaments on the Christmas tree work well with her apartment’s soft colour palette. Her generous Ikea shelving system keeps things organized while offering plenty of space to display family photos, vases and bowls.